Friday, January 7, 2011

Dinosaur Crashes His Way Onto Magazine Cover!

Last summer I was asked to illustrate a magazine cover. And it is finally out! Above is the 2011 Jan/Feb SCBWI Bulletin cover. YAY!! For those of you who aren't familiar with SCBWI it stands for The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. A fabulous international organization for anyone interested in publishing books or digital content for children, middle grade, and young adults.

Photos by my son, Jesse Watson

I had a lot of other ideas which I thought I might use on the cover, but a "friend" of mine convinced me otherwise. You have heard the phrase, "If you give a mouse a cookie..."
Yeah, well try, "If you give a T-Rex raw meat and teach it how to enunciate with its lips..."

There are certain rules of etiquette that simply elude a young T-Rex. I mean honestly, how rude! To go for my jugular just because I was a little late with his ground round. I guess I should be glad he's not picky whether its fresh or month-old road kill. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

Rexy was quite pleased with my progress on the cover art. Naturally, he wanted to put it in his mouth. You just can't turn your back on a T-Rex. Really. Trust me on this one.

The only stipulation for the cover art is that it has to have a kite somewhere in the image. Since my cover was a winter cover, I took my kite out in a blizzard and tried to fly the thing.

After throwing it up again, and again, and again it started to climb towards the heavens...

Orrrrrrrrrr not. I feel your pain, Charlie Brown.

18 comments:

steven said...

richard it's so great to see you "out and about". the cover is so good and knowing the hisotry of its creation is really really cool!!! steven

Von said...

Love the cover thanks for sharing it's creation.

jerilanders said...

As a member of SCBWI, I should be getting this in the mail soon, then I can REALLY examine it! Looks fantastic from here. You are such a pro!

Unknown said...

congrats! the cover is fantastic and you are very talented. sorry about the kite though........ maybe next time. :-)

Kate Higgins said...

Illustrating is like theater. Lots and lots of work goes into the behind-the-scenes process that most people don't see or understand. It's the details that make the picture and the creative work behind the concept that make it look like the illustration just fell out of your head. Of course, I'm sure Rexy thinks its all about him!
I love the going for the jugular photo, Jesse really captured the real you.

Julia Kelly said...

I have been wondering what you have been up to- hoped you were busy in your studio- and appears you were- apparently flying kites with Trexs can get complicated!!

Anonymous said...

I love the madness in your rex's eyes :D And the third picture caught me by surprise - hilarious! There is certainly a knack to kite-flying; for best results stand on top of a windswept headland overlooking the Irish Sea :)

Molly/Cece said...

This is the most awesome cover ever! I loves T-Rex. He is perfect. Beyond perfect. He inspires an entire book in me. You RoCK! Molly

A mermaid in the attic said...

Wonderful!!!

Martha Brockenbrough said...

Richard, I loved the cover! SOO great. Thanks for giving us the story behind it.

angela cerrito said...

The cover is wonderful, but it doesn't compare to the fun photos on this post!!! Thank you for sharing it with us!

Richard Jesse Watson said...

Thanks friends. Rexy says to say "Hi".

Robin Weiss said...

Rooooooaaaaaaar to Rex and hi to you too Richard!
Love the cover!.....It's Light and bright and funny and scary ......and really quite terrifying.....It's PERFECT!

M J Muir said...

A beautiful illustration. Wow! It is a beauty! Such a great Rexy creation and "Hi" to him too from rainy Vancouver!
And it is a delight to see your photos as well in this joyful post.

Faith Pray said...

What fun! I love the cover, and adore the photos! My gang are partial to the one where you're stuck in T-Rex's jaws. Raar!

Richard Jesse Watson said...

Thank you Roaring Robin.

I appreciate your kind comment, Mary Jane.

Hey Faithy, RAAAR back!

Michaele Razi said...

Awesome cover! It's right on my drawing table. I may even have to frame it-I love it so much! Thank you!!!

Richard Jesse Watson said...

Thanks Michaele. Your work inspires me!